Before getting into the Grand Ole Opry line-ups for this week, I did want to mention the PBS Master's Series that spotlighted Loretta Lynn. While I know that it premiered on Friday night in most markets, it did not hit Canton until Sunday and I did watch it. I thought it was very well done and I enjoyed it. Lot's of Loretta footage and interviews with family members. There was classic Opry footage of her and Sissy Spacek doing "Coal Miner's Daughter" and a recent performance from Loretta and John Carter Cash, who produced her latest album, from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. You can't cover everything in two hours so lot's was left out, but really no complaints on my part. Parts of it were funny, parts of it were sad, especially about her family. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. I will also add that Loretta has an Opry appearance coming up in a couple of weeks.
As far as the Opry this weekend, the shows are not as strong as the past couple of weeks, and there are less Opry members scheduled from what we have seen, but overall not too bad of line-ups. Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Skaggs is again scheduled for both nights, and he will be joined by Riders In The Sky, Mike Snider and Bill Anderson. Joining those four on Friday night will be members Connie Smith and Jesse McReynolds, while on Saturday night, it will be Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Bobby Osborne and Dierks Bentley scheduled.
Guest artists on Friday will include the Irish folk music group Altan making their debut appearance. They are in Nashville for the Music City Irish Fest, taking place downtown and with St. Patrick's day next week, the Opry took advantage of the group being in town and scheduled them. From what I can tell, they very rarely come to the United States and I will be anxious to hear what they are all about. Joining Altan on Friday night will be Josh Thompson, Shelley Skidmore, The Swon Brothers and the great Moe Bandy. Very nice to see Moe making a guest appearance. Also scheduled is Tracy Lawrence, who will also be performing on Saturday night, along with Amanda Shires and Lee Greenwood.
Friday March 11
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Josh Thompson; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Shelley Skidmore; Jesse McReynolds
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Moe Bandy; The Swon Brothers
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Tracy Lawrence; Altan
Saturday March 12
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mike Snider; Amanda Shires
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Tracy Lawrence
Intermission
8:15: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Lee Greenwood; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Dierks Bentley
That comes out to 12 acts on Friday and 11 on Saturday, with 6 Opry members on Friday and 8 on Saturday.
For what it is worth, I did some checking on the Ernest Tubb Record Shop website. They are still advertising the return of the Midnight Jamboree on Saturday April 2, which is less than a month away. The site has not bee updated for some time and there are no acts listed for any upcoming Midnight Jamboree shows. Makes you wonder.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of March 11 & 12, 2011:
Friday March 11
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Connie Smith; The Brock McGuire Band
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mandy Barnett; Ralph Stanley
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Josh Turner
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Kenny Rogers
Saturday March 12
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Troy Olsen
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); George Hamilton IV; Terri Clark; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Diamond Rio
Now from ten years ago, the weekend of March 10 & 11, 2006:
Friday March 10
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The White; Jack Greene; Little Big Town
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ralph Stanley; Blue Country
9:00: Jean Shepard (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jeff Bates
9:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Connie Smith; John Conlee
Saturday March 11
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Daryle Singletary
7:00: Pam Tillis (host); Lonestar; SHeDAISY; The Grascals featuring The Jordanaires
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); George Hamilton IV; Jean Shepard; Mel McDaniel; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Ray Scott; Jim Ed Brown
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; SHeDAISY
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Jimmy C Newman; The Grascals featuring The Jordanaires
10:30: Pam Tillis (host); Jean Shepard; Lonestar; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Daryle Singletary
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mel McDaniel; Ray Scott
For this week's look back into Grand Ole Opry history, here is the line-up from 62 years ago this weekend, Saturday March 13, 1954:
7:30: Warren Paint
Roy Acuff (host): Crawdad Song
Lew Childre: Everybody's Fishin'
Goldie Hill: Let Me Be The One
Roy Acuff: The Wreck On The Highway
Howdy Forrester: Topeka Polka
7:45 American Ace
Roy Acuff (host): Just A Friend
Martha Carson: Bye and Bye
Jimmy Riddle: Juke Box Boggie
Dot and Smokey: When I Stop Lovin' You
Roy Acuff: Precious Memories
Oswald: Foggy Mountain Top
8:00: Martha White
Hank Snow (host): Panama Mama
Bill Monroe: Changing Partners
Johnny and Jack: Love Trap
June Carter: I'm All Broke Out With Love
Hank Snow: Act I, Act II, Act III
Possum Hunters: Black Berry Blossom
Kitty Wells: After Dark
Bill Monroe: Goodbye Old Pal
Johnny and Jack: Ashes of Love
Fiddle Tune: Bill Cheatham
Hank Snow: I'm Movin' On
8:30: Prince Albert
Webb Pierce (host): You Just Can't Be True
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Davis Sisters: Takin' Time Out For Tears
Square Dancers: Old Joe Clark
Webb Pierce: Precious Memories
Moon Mullican: Good Deal Lucille
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Davis Sisters: I Forgot More Than You'll Every Know
String Bean: Going Down The Country
Webb Pierce: Slowly
Fiddle Tune: Grey Eagle
9:00: Roy Crown Cola
Roy Acuff (host): New River Train
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire In The Mountain
George Morgan: Love, Love, Love
Jug Band: They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree
Marty Robbins: Isle of Golden Dreams
Lonzo and Oscar: Wild Oats
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
Oswald: Curly Headed Baby
Riddle: I'm Sitting On Top of The World
Howdy Forrester: Apple Blossom
9:30: Martha White
Carl Smith (host): Satisfaction Guaranteed
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Little But I'm Loud
Anita Carter: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Cowboy Copas: Filipino Baby
Crook Brothers: Buff Creek Gal
Ray Price: I'll Be There
Chet Atkins: There's A Shanty In Old Shanty Town
Carl Smith: Who'll Buy My Heartaches
Jimmy Dickens: Sidemeat and Cabbage
Fiddle Tune: Turkey In The Straw
Carl Smith: This Orchid Means Goodbye
10:00: Wallrite
George Morgan (host): Look What Followed Me Home
Martha Carson: Lazarus
Bill Monroe: A Voice From On High
Blue Grass Boys: Roanoke Breakdown
George Morgan: The First Time I Told You A Lie
10:15: Dr. Le Gear
Hank Snow (host): Honeymoon On A Rocket Ship
Davis Sisters: Gotta Git Goin'
Marty Robbins: At The End of A Long Lovely Day
Tommy Vaden: Leather Britches
Hank Snow: I'm Bidding My Blues Goodbye
10:30: Jefferson Island Salt
Jimmy Dickens (host): I Just Wouldn't Do That
Ray Price: Release Me
Goldie Hill: Young At Heart
Jordanaires: Tattler's Wagon
Mother Maybelle: Wildwood Flower
Moon Mullican: Wanted
Jimmy Dickens: Waitress, Waitress
Chet Atkins: Over The Waves
Ray Price: You'll Always Get By
Fiddle Tune: Sally Goodin
11:00: O-Cel-O
Roy Acuff (host): Don't Hang Your Dirty Linen On My Line
Cowboy Copas: The Man Upstairs
Bobby Hebbs; Mr. Spoons
Gang: This World Can't Stand Long
Howdy: Cotton Eyed Joe
11:15: Hester Battery
Carl Smith: Doggone It Baby, I'm In Love
Johnny and Jack: Cheating Is A Sin
String Beans: Free A Little Bird
Gully Jumpers: Old Joe
Carl Smith: Darling, Am I The One
11:30: W. E. Stephens
Hank Snow (host): When Mexican Joe Meets Jole Blon
Lew Childre: Snow White Horse
Lonzo and Oscar: Let Me Be The One No. 2
Crook Brothers: Billy In The Low Ground
Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie
11:45: Mathieson Chemical Co.
Webb Pierce (host): There Stands The Glass
Sam and Kirk McGee: Waiting For A Letter
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Billy In The Low Ground
Webb Pierce: I'm Walking The Dog
Fiddle: Wagoner
I don't think anyone would complain about that Opry show, except maybe Webb Pierce who had to wait 2 1/2 hours between his two spots. Many of the performers had three, including Roy Acuff and Hank Snow.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!!
Altan is the real deal as far as tradition Irish folk bands are concerned. They have been around for years and I think you'll enjoy them. Given the profound influence of Irish and British folk music on country, mountain and bluegrass music I think they belong on the Opry much more than the rock and roll bands that have been on in recent years. They did a guest appearance on Dolly Parton's "Heartsongs" album back in the 90's with a version of "Barbara Allen" that was haunting and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Webb Pierce might have made some sacrifices at Tootsie's between shows?
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff as always, Byron.
I saw ol' Webb live twice back in the 60's : once in Kalamazoo and another time in Flint, Michigan --- he was not in shape to perform either time, and he had become a joke among the other artists on other concerts. Really disappointing, because he had such a great voice when he was sober. Dashmann: Flushing, Michigan
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, a lot of them over the years overindulged, so we shouldn't just mention Webb!
ReplyDeleteyou are correct ----Webb just went 2 for 2 when I was going to see him so he stands out --- Dashmann --Flushing, Michigan
DeleteYes indeed. I can think of several Hall of Fame members who overindulged (going back to the early days of Country Music). Frank A.
DeleteI was in Nashville this past weekend and went to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Music Valley Drive. There was more bare floorspace than anything else; very little product left. The lady working there said the shop is about to close and the remaining stock will be going to the downtown store. The bus will stay for now, as they really have no other place to put it currently. The Texas Troubador Theater is under separate ownership and will stay open for now.
ReplyDeleteThe blame for all this can be laid squarely at Gaylord's doorstep. The whole Opryland Drive/Music Valley Drive area has been in slow decline since they closed Opryland Theme Park and built "Shopryland" in its place. Gaylord has done more to kill tourism in Nashville than any other entity ever could have.
I'll get off my soapbox now; rant over.
Steve
Thanks Steve. When I was in Nashville in February I saw the same thing; very little inventory and no customers at all. She told me at the time that they were hoping for the best. Well, with nothing to sell, it was going to be tough to overcome. It will be interesting to see if they can pay the bill for the Midnight Jamboree to continue. But with no record shop.......
DeleteMoving the Jamboree back to the downtown store, as much as I hate to see the Music Valley area dry up, would probably give it the best chance of survival.
DeleteReally sad to see things reverse themselves with downtown thriving and the Opryland area on the ropes. Personally, I avoid downtown if possible because of traffic and lack of parking. I don't understand how it's thriving with everything so inconvenient, but there seems to be a lot of things I don't understand about Nashville anymore.
Steve
They've officially closed and are now directing people to visit their downtown location. I've heard nothing about it, but I just drove over there to visit and there were signs up telling folks.
DeleteTerrible, but not unexpected knowing what has happened in the last year at the shop. Just too much to overcome. I know they blame online music and the various music websites, but I still think if properly managed, there is a place for a record shop, especially one with such tradition as this one.
DeleteAgreed.
DeleteA couple of changes for tonight. Jimmy Wayne is on instead of Shelley Skidmore and Bobby Osborne and the boys on instead of Jesse McReynolds. Bobby did "Roll Muddy River" and sounded great.
ReplyDeleteas much as I love Ricky Skaggs and I think he is one of the most talented musicians ever he just doesn`t have the commercial success as Randy Travis Alan Jackson or Brooks & Dunn he just doesn`t have that many hits as those 3 even though he has had 13 #1 hits but still not as many as Randy Alan or B&D Randy Alan and B&D should all go in ahead of him and I believe if Ricky is elected this year ahead of those 3 it will be because of his longevity not based on his commercial success and I also believe his induction would open the floodgates for Marty Stuart like Ricky Marty is a very talented musician but he Didn`t have the big career like so many others but he is very active in the CMA and I`m worried that if Ricky is elected this year it would open the door for Marty
ReplyDeleteFred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI sure do miss the old music stores, to kill a little time in if nothing else; but it's little wonder they can't compete with the variety and prices on the Internet.
I have no idea how E.T.'s own Internet business is holding up, but others seem to be making it there. (County Sales, for one, boasts that business has never been better; but of course they're mostly bluegrass and oldtime, music that's harder to find elsewhere than on CDs.)
Maybe E.T. should shutter the stores and confine itself to its Web business.
They have to release all pre 2011 Midnight Jamboree podcasts on the etrecordshop.com audio archive for 5 Dollar each to download. I'm sure they can make a lot of money with that...
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if they kept the Midnite Jamboree alive by moving it downtown. How many people could they fit? Where would they sit? Bob Bien
DeleteWell, if they moved the Midnight Jamboree back downtown, nobody would sit as it would be like it was back in the old days with everyone standing. Not sure how many people they could fit in, probably a couple hundred. With the Opry at the Grand Ole Opry House, I don't see many people who would drive downtown and pay money to park to see the Midnight Jamboree. I would guess if they were downtown, they would be dependent on the people hanging around Lower Broadway. It could work, or they could stay in the theater, which is owned by the Rudy Family and not David McCormick.
DeleteByron: I agree with you about Loretta Lynn's documentary on American Masters series. It was excellent!!! If anybody has Comcast and hasn't seen it, you can watch it on "On Demand" until April 3rd. Bob Bien
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention that today is Jan Howard's 86 the birthday, which makes her the oldest female Opry member. Later this month, Jan will celebrate 45 years as an official Opry member, although she has been on the Opry for 55 years, as she was part of Bill Anderson's show. Hopefully we will see Jan back at the Opry soon.
ReplyDeleteByron, reading about Jan got me to thinking about Jean Shepard. Do we know what the status of her health is? - Frank Apperson
DeleteI saw pictures this morning of a surprise dinner and birthday celebration that was held for Jan last night. From the pictures, she looks pretty good. As far as Jean Shepard, I saw pictures of her a few weeks back at a taping of Larry's Country Diner. She was seated in the audience during the taping. She looked about the same
DeleteThanks for the info, Byron.
DeleteBy looking at Jan, you would never know that she was 80. Happy belated birthday Jan. Bob Bien
DeleteThe 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees will be announced on March 29
ReplyDelete